Grassi Lakes -- Aug 6, 2006

Elevation Gain: 200 meters (656 feet)

Climbed by: me, Cathy.

From Canmore, take the Spray Lakes road past the Canmore Nordic Center, and
turn left just before the road turns to gravel. Descend to the parking lot,
and find a spot to park. If the lot is full, park above the residential area
along the side of the road.

Immediately behind the washrooms, you'll find the trailhead. Follow the trail
for a short while, and you'll come to an important intersection. Here you
need to decide if you want an easy walk or an enjoyable walk. The 'easy'
route is just an access road with very little in the way of scenery, but if
you are pushing a stroller, or have someone who can't do stairs, that's
probably the way you'll want to go. Most people hopefully choose the 'more
difficult' route which takes you alongside the valley/canyon, offers views
of the waterfall, and is the path that Lawrence Grassi made. I'm not sure
how many of the stone steps that are present were actually placed back in
the 1920's when this trail was built, but surely some of them have survived
being washed out over the years.

Follow the trail, and before you know it you come to a log bridge where the
Grassi Lakes drain into the valley below. Just around the corner is the
lower lake, and immediately behind that is the upper lake. Both lakes are an
absolutely spectacular shade of blue/green, completely different from the
man-made lakes above this point.

After looking at the water (and the small fish!), we started watching the
sport climbers, of which there were many. We walked up the steep bit at the
back of the lakes, up to the dam (another 75m, but steeper than the first 200).
On the way down we saw some sport climbers doing an overhanging climb. That
was fun to watch. Someday I'd like to take up rock climbing; it looks very
fun (and very physical!). Cathy thinks I'm crazy, but I figure if I enjoy
ice climbing, I'll probably enjoy rock climbing, too!

We took the 'easy' route down, and we both agreed that it was pretty lame
compared to the slightly more difficult route. We passed no fewer than 50
people on their way up as we came down around noon. Good thing we got there as
early as we did!

First pit-stop on the way up to the lakes.

Someone standing in the way of the beautiful waterfall!

Me.

One of the steeper bits, with switchbacks, even!

On to the next switchback!

Some stairs made of rock.

The reservoir at the base of the waterfall.

Some information about Lawrence Grassi, an all-around nice guy.

Someone asked us if we'd like a photo together -- why not!

The outlet of the lakes, from the log bridge.

A lagoon just above the drainage.

The lagoon, from the other side.

Lower Grassi Lake. What a neat colour!

Me, on the edge of the lake.

I forgot my fishing rod!

A look across the lower lake toward the upper lake.

The stream where the upper lake drains into the lower lake. I'm not
completely sure where the water in the upper lake comes from. It must
seep in from somewhere!

Upper Grassi Lake.

Another little fish!

The upper lake from alongside the rock wall. This angle really brings
out the colours and the features at the bottom of the lake.